AFP ready to help NGCP secure towers amid bombings

MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Monday expressed concern over the bombings of transmission towers in Mindanao and urged the public to report to authorities the armed groups behind them.

In a full-page advertisement published in The STAR, NGCP said a total of 16 towers have been bombed as of November. The attacks have caused widespread blackouts in Mindanao. 

NGCP noted that the bombing of transmission towers is against Republic Act 9372 or Human Security Act. The public is advised to report suspicious individuals and activities near NGCP facilities by sending a text message to 09178791077.

Security officials have linked criminal groups and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, to the bombings.

The military described the attacks on transmission towers as a “serious concern” and expressed readiness to secure the NGCP facilities.

“The Army is ready to act when provided with timely information. There are several towers and you cannot guard them all. One has to conduct area security so information if very vital,” Armed Forces public affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato said.

He said the attacks may have been related to extortion activities of criminal groups.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla admitted that they do not have enough manpower to secure all transmission towers.

“The armed forces and the police are of limited number and the area we need to watch out and guard is quite big,” Padilla said.

“The best thing we can recommend is to continue with the coordination, continue collaborative activities, essential monitoring of sites we can guard and work closely with the security teams of the NGCP,” he added.

Detoyato called on the groups behind the attacks to refrain from damaging power facilities, saying the blackouts could affect the lives of innocent civilians and hamper development in the region.